Here’s a refined and concise rewrite:

AAP Faces Tough Battle in Ludhiana West as Kejriwal Launches Punjab Campaign

More than a month after its crushing defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal kicked off the party’s campaign for the upcoming Ludhiana West by-poll on Monday. However, given the constituency’s recent voting patterns, the by-election is unlikely to be an easy win for the ruling AAP. To regain momentum, AAP swiftly announced Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate, despite the Election Commission yet to declare the poll schedule. At a public meeting in Ludhiana, Kejriwal praised Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s anti-drug campaign, calling it a “trailer” of more action to come. He also aimed at rival parties, stating: “The Akalis, Congress, and BJP ruined Punjab in 70 years. We can’t clean up seven decades of mess in three years, but we are on the job with a broom.”

The poll—triggered by the tragic accidental death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi—is seen as a crucial test for AAP following its Delhi debacle, where key leaders including Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia suffered significant losses. However, speculation over Arora’s candidacy has sparked rumors that Kejriwal might take his place in the Rajya Sabha, a claim denied by Arora but fueled by criticism from Delhi BJP minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

Despite Arora’s promises of “Europe-like roads” and “power-cut-free summers,” AAP faces an uphill battle in Ludhiana West. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, AAP’s candidate finished a distant third in the Ludhiana constituency, with Congress and BJP dominating. The party also underperformed in the December municipal polls, failing to secure a majority despite being the largest party.

Adding to AAP’s challenges is the possible entry of Congress veteran Bharat Bhushan Ashu. A former minister and two-time MLA, Ashu was jailed in an alleged foodgrain scam but later cleared by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which called the case “pure vendetta.” Ashu has hit out at Kejriwal, claiming AAP is at its lowest after back-to-back electoral failures.

Meanwhile, the BJP, which enjoys strong urban support in Ludhiana West, is yet to announce its candidate but has vowed to put up a tough fight. BJP’s Ludhiana district chief Rajnish Dhiman criticized Kejriwal’s early campaign, accusing him of political theatrics instead of addressing governance failures.

With Congress and BJP gaining ground, AAP will need more than just Kejriwal’s presence to secure Ludhiana West in what promises to be a high-stakes contest.